Why Warriors may not face Russell Westbrook in season opener

Share this:

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) look at each other in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

The NBA’s dream matchup it set up for opening night between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook may not happen after all.

The Thunder announced the former MVP underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Los Angeles after experiencing inflammation in it this past weekend. The surgery will likely force Westbrook to miss the entire preseason and perhaps some regular season games, including the season opener against the Warriors in Oakland on Oct. 16.

Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti and the team characterized Westbrook’s procedure as pre-emptive “maintenance” and the team doesn’t anticipate any lingering effects. Presti told reporters Westbrook would be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks.

When the Warriors and Thunder have met the past two years, the drama between Westbrook and Durant has made for some of the most intense games of the regular season.

Perhaps the only positive thing for Westbrook about missing the opener would be he wouln’t have to watch Durant and the Warriors receive their NBA championship rings.

While Durant is coming off back-to-back world titles with the Warriors, Westbrook has had consecutive seasons of averaging a triple-double, the first time that’s happened in NBA history. The seven-time All-Star averaged 25.4 points, 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds last season.

https://youtu.be/5K5ICSO__qU CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on a mobile device The Golden State Warriors lost three straight road games in Texas for the first time under the Steve Kerr era. They need to prepare for three big home games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trailblazers, and the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors (12-6)...